Tonneau-table for automobiles and the like



F. M.' WILLS.

TONNEAU TABLE FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. 1920.

31. 34%, 6 1 3n Patented Aug. 3, 192%.

FRANK M. WILLS, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS.

TONNEAU-TABLE FOR. AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters IPatent.

Patented Aug. 3, 11920 Application filed March 29, 1920. Serial No.369,547.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. VVILLS, a citizen of the Uniteob States,residing at Elgin, county of Kane, and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Tonneau-Tables for Automobilesand the like, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has to do with an improved tonneau table for usein automobiles and the like. The table to which the present inventionparticularly relates is so formed and related to the body of the automobile that, when standing in operative position, it will constitute atable conveniently located for the use of the occupants in the rearportion or tonneau of the machine. When in this position, it may be usedfor any convenient purpose, such as serving the luncheon, playing agame, or any other suitable or usual purpose. On the other hand, thearrangement is such that, when not in use, the table may be dropped backinto position within a slotted opening in the back portion of the frontseat in which position it is completely out of the way and protectedagainst the weather and elements. Furthermore, when so moved into thenonoperative position, the parts are fully covercd and protected, andthe automobile presents a very neat and pleasing appearance.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detaileddescription of the same which consists in the features of constructionand combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a portion of an automobilebody showing the position which the table occupies with respect to thefront seat and with respect to the rear portion or tonneau; and

Fig. 2 shows a detailed fragmentary section on enlarged scale showingthe table and the manner in which it may be moved back into the slottedopening and there protected.

Referring to the drawing, the body of the automobile in its entirety isdesignated by the numeral 3. For purposes of convenience in illustrationand description, I have shown a front seat 4 and a rear seat 5; and havealso illustrated a door b'giving access to the tonneau.

In the back portion 7 of the front seat, and generally in the frame ofsaid back portion, I provide a vertically extending depending upon thewishes of the designer.

The slotted opening 8 will be of depth suitable to accommodate the tablewhen dropped into the lowered position, and will, therefore, be of adepth approximating the width of the table itself.

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The table 9 will generally be made of pressed sheet metal and in suchcase it may be provided with a fancy or beaded edge portion, or may beleft perfectly plain; and, if desired, its faces may be enameled orpainted to harmonize with the finish of the car, or special designs maybe placed thereon. For example, in some cases, it may be found desirableto place the design of a checkerboard on one face of the table, so thatwhen the table is drawn out into the operative position shown in Fig. 2,the occupants of the rear portion of the car will have at their disposala checker-board on which to play checkers, chess, or any other similargame.

. The table itself is provided on its inner end with a hooked portion10; and across the upper end of the slotted opening 8 there extends arod 11, which rod has its end portions secured firmly within the frameof the car or to the back of the front seat. Ordinarily this rod 11 willbe of a diameter approximating the curvature of the hooked portion 10,so that when the table is drawn up and tilted over into the horizontalposition, said hooked portion will easily engage the rod 11.

Ordinarily the rod 11 will be placed slightly above the position of theupper end 12 of the back of the seat, so that when the table is thrownover into the horizontal position, it will either rest upon or clearsaid upper edge 12. When it rests upon said upper edge, it will besupported thereby, and, in conjunction with the rod 11, will be held inthe horizontal position. Owing to the proximity of the upper edge 12 tothe rod 11, it may, in some cases, be found that the supporting momentthus produced is insufiicient to properly carry the load of the tableand the articles placed thereon; in which case use may be made of therobe rail 13 which is ordinarily present and lo slotted opening,substantially as cated= at some distance behind the upper edge 12. Whenthe robe rail is to be used in this manner for providing support for thetable, the parts should be so related that the table will come to restupon the robe rail either at the same time that the table finds asupport upon the u per edge 12 or independently thereof. n many cases,the entire support for the table will be provided between the rod 11 andthe robe rail 13.

If desired, a cap 14: may be provided for normally closing over andprotecting the upper portion of the slotted opening 8. Such cap, whenprovided, may be hinged to the upper portion of the seat at the po1nt 15so that it can, upon occasion, be raised into the dotted line positionshown in the figure. If desired, suitable finger pieces or grips 16 maybe provided on the upper or outer edge of the table so as to facilitateraising the table into the working position.

While I have herein shown and described only a single embodiment of thefeatures of my invention, still I do not limit myself to the saidembodiment, except as I may do so in the claims. i I claim:

1. The combination with an automobile body having a front seat with avertical back, there being a vertically extending slotted opening in theback portion of said seat, and havin a horizonta ly extending robe railon the ack face of t e upper portion of the back ofsaidseat,ofarodextending across the upper portion of said slottedopening, a sheet metal table adapted to work within the slotted openingand having a.

width substantially equal to the depth of the slotted opening, a hookededge portion on the inner edge of the table adapted to engage the rodwhen the table is raised into working position, the robe rail and rodbeing located atsubstantially the same elevation, whereby when the tableis raisedinto the working position its inner edge will hook onto andengage the rod, and its under face will rest upon and be supported bythe robe rail, and a cover hinged to the upper portion of the seat andnormallylying over and closing the upper ed e of the escribed.

2. The combination with an automobile body having a front seat with avertical back, there being a vertically extending slotted opening in theback portion of said seat, and having a horizontally extendingrobe railon the ck face of the upper portion of the back of said seat, of a sheetmetal table adapted to work within the adapted to engage said hookedportion when the table israised into working position 5 the robe railand said means being-located at substantially-the same elevation,whereby when the table is raised intothe workin position its inner edgewill cooperate wit said means, and its under face will rest upon and besupported by the robe rail, and a cover hinged to the upper portion ofthe seat, and normally lying over and closing the upper edge of theslotted opening, substantially as described.

3. The combination with an automobile body having a front seat with avertical back, there being a vertically extending slotted opening in theback portion of said seat, and having a horizontally extending to roberail on the back face of the upper portion of the back of said seat, ofa sheet metal table adapted to work within the slotted opening andhaving a width substan. tially equal to the depth of the slottedopening, a hooked portion on the inner edge of the table, and means onthe back ofthe seat adapted to engage said hooked portion when thetable'is raised into working position, the robe rail and said means beinglocated at substantially the same elevation, whereby when the table israised into the working position its inner edge will cooperate with saidmeans, and its under face will rest upon and be supported by the roberail, substantially as described. 4. The combination with an automobilebody having a front seat with a vertical back, there being a verticallyextending slotted opening in the back portion of said seat, and having ahorizontally extending robe rail on the back face of the upper portionof the back of said seat, of a sheet metal table adapted to work withinthe slotted opening and having a width substantially equal to the depthof the slotted opening, and means in conjunction with the inner edge ofsaid table, and the back of the seat adapted to engage each other whenthe table is raised into the working position, the robe rail and saidmeans being relatively so positioned that when the table is raised andmoved into the horizontal position, it will simultaneously engage saidFRANK M. WILLS.

